uproot - Demo Day

​uproot Demo Day is a showcase of early-stage business ideas built by female founders from the uproot Cohort 2026.

​What is uproot? uproot is an early-stage accelerator for female and non-binary students who want to build businesses but haven’t always felt represented, included, or supported in the traditional startup ecosystem. The program focuses on clarity over hype, helping founders understand who they’re building for, validate real problems, and turn early ideas into something tangible.

​What is Demo Day? Demo Day marks the end of the cohort’s journey. During the event, founders will take the stage to pitch the ideas they’ve been developing, from the problem they’re tackling to the solution they’re testing and what they want to build next.

​What to expect? Expect short, honest pitches, early concepts, and meaningful problems. This is not about polished startups or perfect decks, it’s about seeing ideas at the moment they begin, and the people brave enough to build them.

​Schedule:

• ​16:30 – 16:45: Check-in

• ​16.45 - 17.00: Opening words

• ​17:00 – 17:15: Opening Keynote by Marianne Hughes

• ​17:20 – 18:20: Teams pitch

• ​18:20 - 18.40: Judges deliberate (and networking time for you)

• ​18.40: Winner announcement

​This event is open to all students. Whether you’re part of the startup ecosystem, curious about entrepreneurship, or simply want to support female founders at the start of their journey, Demo Day is an opportunity to show up, listen, and be part of something that’s still taking shape.

​Come discover what happens when more voices get access to space, support, and a stage.